this post was submitted on 22 Sep 2024
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35
Puzzle - white has a checkmate. (hexbear.net)
submitted 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) by InevitableSwing@hexbear.net to c/games@hexbear.net
14 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

Hint 1

It's mate in 4.

Hint 2

Nf7+ then Nh6+

Smothered mate

The solution is here - https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/120785379743?tab=analysis&move=59 - check top of the right sidebar.

I started trying something new when I watch speed chess.

  1. Sometimes I watch players stronger than me but not too much stronger than me.

  2. I keep the evaluation bar off so I'm forced to think without hints. I'm way too addicted to the elav bar.

Spoiler - I mention what I saw in real time.I watched this game a few minutes ago. I thought I was clever to notice Nf7+ and Nxd8 which wins the rook. But even though I love smothered mates - I didn't even think to look for that. When white played Nh6+ I nearly groaned. What the- Oh! I missed it! Fuuuuuuck!

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[–] Speaker@hexbear.net 6 points 1 month ago

Talk about taking the L. Cute mate.

[–] MidnightPocket@hexbear.net 5 points 1 month ago (3 children)

I checked the solution and it was much simpler than I expected; can't the pawn just kill the knight to avoid the king having to move back/forth? Doesn't seem like checkmate since to escape check it is legal to capture the threatening piece.

[–] Barabas@hexbear.net 5 points 1 month ago

The king is also put in check by the queen, taking the knight doesn’t remove that threat.

[–] InevitableSwing@hexbear.net 5 points 1 month ago

can't the pawn just kill the knight to avoid the king having to move back/forth?

No. It's double check and double check is (very) nasty.

[–] bunnygirl@hexbear.net 4 points 1 month ago

In any double check (queen and knight here), the only possible response is to move the king

[–] Wakmrow@hexbear.net 4 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Doesn't have to be a smother. Kf8 before qf7#

[–] Speaker@hexbear.net 1 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

How do you get to Kf8?

[–] Wakmrow@hexbear.net 2 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

NF7+ KG8 NH6+ KF8 QG7#

If you wanted to be spiteful you could do this to deny the smother

[–] propter_hog@hexbear.net 2 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

I followed you until Qg7#. The Queen is on e6, so it can't move to g7 in one move.

ETA: I see you meant Qf7#, but that line doesn't work in the puzzle because I believe Kf8 is going to be worse than Kh8, but I'd want to see what the analysis says about it. At that point mate in 2 is unavoidable regardless.

[–] Wakmrow@hexbear.net 2 points 1 month ago

Yeah, meant qf7#, I always mess up notation lol.

I mean there is no analysis at this point, it's forced mate. Neither kh8 nor kf8 is better. But black can avoid a smother if they choose. For the record, I would not avoid it, smothers are cool.

[–] Tomorrow_Farewell@hexbear.net 4 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

spoilerNf7 Kg8
Nh6
Then, either
1.
... Kh8
Qg8 Rxg8
Nf7
Smothered checkmate.
Or
2.
... Kf8
Qf7

Let's see if I was correct.

EDIT: Seems like I solved this one correctly.

[–] propter_hog@hexbear.net 3 points 1 month ago

spoilerI'm like you: I LOOOOVE a good smother mate.

[–] Nationalgoatism@hexbear.net 3 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Nxd8 also leads to a mate in 3 or 4. Black has to respond Kh8 or Kf8, so Qe8 or Qf7 respectively. This is a cool play as well though

[–] Speaker@hexbear.net 2 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

I don't think Nxd8 would be legal. EDIT: Oh, I see it, next move. My bad. Though I think you need the smother to avoid Qxe6.